Back presser mop



July v18, 1950 N. B. GREENLEAF x-:T A1. 2,515,403

BACK PRESSER MOP Filed Dec. 2l, 1948 3730 E8 ao Patented July 18, 1950BACK PRESSE!! MOP Nathaniel B. Greenleaf and Leonard C. Webster,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, toSponge Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

Appueeuen neeember 21, 194s, sei-a1 No. 66,454

(cl. 11s-11s) 8 Claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in mops, particularly of theself-wringing type, and the principal object of the invention is toprovide a mop of simplified and extremely economical construction whichwill enable the wringing of the mopping element or sponge to be moreexpeditiously and efficiently accomplished. than with previous mopconstructions to effectively flush the dirt out of the mopping elementrather' than force it deeper into the mopping element as occurs inpresent self-wringing mops.

A further important object is to eliminate the expensive double-hingearrangement of the wringing element previously required.

A further object of importance is to provide a mop in which the moppingelement can be quickly secured to the head of the mop and will bepositively retained against accidental dislodgement or it can be readilyremoved and replaced with a minimum of eifort.

Another object is to provide a mop which will be extremely convenient touse and which will not scratch or mar the furniture or other woodworkduring use.

A still further object contemplated is to provide a mop of the typereferred to which will eliminate scufiing of the floor by the mop headeven when the handle is inclined at a small angle to the flooring whenmopping under furniture or other objects.

The principal feature of the invention consists in hinging the wringerelement or presser at the Yrear of the mop head to swing about a singleaxis fixed relative the mop head to compress the mop- -vping elementprogressively from-rear tofront to flush the dirt accumulating undernormal mopping at the forward edge of the mopping element back out thefront, making use of the water reservoir provided by the rear of themopping element by forcing the rearward lower edge forwardly as theelement is compressed at the same f time bodily repositioning theelement forwardly from rearward displacement under normal moppingaction. V

A further important feature consists in curving the presser plate orwringer element and shaping the mopping element carried by the mop headto incline rearwardly whereby the mopping element and presser platewhenswung to thewringing position are in a co-ope'rative relation foroptimum wringing. 4

Afurther feature consists in forming the mop-v ping element to overlapthe mop head to provide a cushioning bumper surface ,around the mop headand reinforcing the forward edge of the lo mopping element to preventthis portion from yielding under sharp impact to expose the hardsurfaces of the mop head.

A still further feature of importance consists in providing a hingestructure for the presser plate in which the hinge thereof is arrangedabove the mop head and clear of the flooring when the mop is used underfurniture or other obstacles with the handle inclined at a small angleto the flooring.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view ofthemop head showing in full lines the mopping element in interlockedrelation therewith and showing in dotted line the mop head and moppingelement relatively displaced in an intermediate position of separation.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view .of the mop of Figure 1 with thepresser or s queezer plate in a retracted inoperative position with thehandle fragmented.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing the presser or squeezingplate forming the wringing element in position to compress the moppingelement, with the wringing action initiated and with the handlefragmented. y

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a slightly modified form of mop withthe handle fragmented and showing a different interlock between themopping element and mop head.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the presser plate and mop head ofthe mop of Figure 4 with the wringer element swung to an inter-4 mediateposition between the retracted and wringing positions.

'I'here are several self-wringing mops available, the most eil'ective ofwhich are the "front presser mops wherein a presser or wringer is hingedin some suitable manner to the front edge of the mop head. While thesefront presser mops do enable the sponge to be thoroughly compressed,they have several very serious disadvantages. One of the most serious isthat under all mopping actions the dirt collects and ac-l cumulates atthe forward edge of the mopping element or sponge while very little dirtis picked up by the trailing edge. When squeezing the sponge with thepresser plate hinged to the front of the mop head the sponge is squeezedin a direction from front to rear and the result is that dirtaccumulations at the front edge are flushed back into the sponge,eliminating only that dirt than can bel actually flushed through thewidth of the sponge and merely distributing the remainder throughout thebody thereof. Again under all mopping actions the mopping element isforced rearwardly out. of position, and with the front presser mops thewringing action further deforms the mopping element or sponge as it isforced rearwardly as it is compressed.

With our present invention we effect the squeezing of the spongeprogressively from back to front while leaving the forward face of thesponge unobstructed, whereby the water in the body of the spongereservoir is forced out the forward edge to flush out the dirtaccumulations at the forward edge or face, enabling the element to besqueezed clean instead of merely distributing the dirt as in previousmop constructions.

Other important advantages of our mop will be understood from thefollowing description.

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe head of the mop comprises a flat plate I to which is securedcentrally of its length a screw socket 2 to receive the handle 3.

As will be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the handle and socket extendupwardly at approximately right angles to the plane of the mop head orplate I.

At the rear, edge portions'of the plate I, which are cut back into themetal of the plate, are kturned upwardly above the plane of the plateand .are formed into the hinge barrels I leaving the straight guide edgeportions 5 therebetween, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The mopping element 6 is formed of a highly absorbent sponge materialand preferably of cellulose sponge. This mopping element is in the f ormof a quadrangular block which, as will Iseen' in Figure 2, has the uppersurface 1 slabbed rearwardly and with the front and rear surfaces atright angles to the bottom 8. The block is thus considerably thinner atthe rear than at the front.

- Secured to the upper surface 'I is a plate 9 having the rolledlongitudinal edges I0 forming locking channels to receive thelongitudinal straight edges of the mop head plate I to form a slidinginterlock therewith with the edges I0 extending inwardly over the top ofthe mop head.

The plate 9 is of an area less than the area of the mopping elementsurface 1. Thus as seen in Figure 1 the mopping element extends beyondthe mop head around the complete perimeter thereof to provide acushioning effect when the mop is swung into engagement with thefurniture or other wood surface, the sponge thus forming a protectiontherefor.

Secured to the upper forward longitudinal edge of the mopping element 9is a longitudinal fabric strip I I, between the folds of which isineluded a compressed fold of the sponge material I2. Both the fabricstrip II and the plate 9 are adhered to the sponge material with asuitable heat-resistant adhesive, such as cellulose acetate or the like,so that the mopping element will be permanently adhered to its backingplate and the strip II will be permanently secured in positionthroughout the life of the mopping element even when used with boilingor extremely hot water.

The cellulose sponge material upon becoming wet is exceedingly pliableand offers relatively little resistance to displacement when struckviolently against a solid obstacle. However, the folded fabric strip II,even though being of a flexible material, greatly increases theresistance to yielding of the mopping element at the critical upperforward edge where the large proportion of the sharp impacts areassumed. Thus the fabric strip, while yielding to prevent damage ofresistance to yielding that the edge of the backing plate orv mop headwill not be exposed to direct contact with the furniture surface.

Each end of the mop head plate I is shown formed with a curved indentI3. while the metal at each end of the backing plate 9 is arcuatelvslotted to form the tongues Il which are bent upwardly out of the planeof the plate and engage in the indents I3 to prevent longitudinalrelative movement of the mop head and mopping element when the membersare in normal interlocked relation, as shown in solid line Figure 1.

Due to the vresiliency of the metal material forming the plate 9 thedeformed tongues I4 can. be readily depressed to clear the mop head andthe mopping element and mop head then slid relatively longitudinally toremove the mopping element.

To replace'the mopping element the tongue at one end is depressed toinitiate the sliding interlock and the parts will slide freely until themopping element is positioned, at which point the tongue will clear theend of the mop head and spring up into the indent I3.

Secured to the rear of the mop head is a presser or squeezer platel I5which forms the wringing element of the mop. This plate is of arcuate orangular formation and is formed of a metal grid having spaced openingsI6 and reinforcing ribs I'I, although other forms of presser grids mayof course be utilized.

The presser plate is formed with rolled extensions forming hinge barrelsI9 along one longitudinal edge which interleave-with the barrels 4 ofthe mop head to receive the hinge pintle I9 to connect the presser platefor hlnsing movement to the mop head.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the presser plate is bent vor curvedadjacent to but spaced from the longitudinal hinged edge to present atthe rear an obtuse angle to provide a wide portion 20 for engaging theundersurface l of the mopping element when the presser plate is swungfrom the position of Figure 2 to the position of Figure 3, the forwardedge 20' of the plate being bent upwardly to constrain the moppingelement when pressing.

Secured to'the presser plate I5 is a handle 2| which is engaged by thespring clip 22 when swung to the inoperative position of Figure 2 duringthe normal operation of the mop.

When it is desired to wring the mop the wringing element as formed bythe presser plate is readily released from the clip 22 and swung to theposition of Figure 3.

In the wringing action as will be seen from Figure 3, the presser plateI5 upon being swung rearwardly about the hinge pintle I9 first contactsthe sponge 6 at the rearward lower edge and then engages the undersurface of the sponge to progressively compress the sponge from back tofront while displacing the rearward lower edge forwardly. Under wringingthe forward edge or face of the sponge is unobstructed. The result isthat, as the sponge is progressively compressed from back to front, dirtwhich accumulates at the forward edge of the sponge under mopping actionis forced out the unobstructed forward sponge face or edge. By virtue ofthe progressive compression from back to front and the initialcompression of the rear lower sponge edge forwardly the entire spongeforms a water reservoir, with the wateiin reservoir being forced to flowas a heavy flush towards and out the front sponge face.

The wringing action is further enhanced by the inclining of the spongeand the curvature of the presser plate in which the portion 20 isinclined rearwardly from the hinge portion I8,

Figure 2, at a distance from the hinge less than the thickness of thesponge at the rear. \Upon increased pressure the presser plate movesfrom the position of Figure 3 until the sponge is substantiallyuniformly compressed.

With the shape of the presser plate and sponge there is little tendencyto tear or damage the sponge by excessive lateral movement.

It will be appreciated that the wringing action is very easilyaccomplished and with the provision of the single hinge arrangement ofthe presser plate the construction of the mop is greatly simplified fromthe double hinge arrangements previously required to bring the wringingelement. into proper co-operation with the mopping element.

I n addition to the more positive simplified wringing action thelocation of the presser plate I at the rear of the mop eliminatescontact of the plate with the furniture when mopping the surfacetherebelow.

Further, the raised hinge arrangement which places the hinge barrels labove the plane of the mop head ensures that the hinge is maintainedclear of the flooring even with the handle swung at a low angle to theflooring to guide the mopping element beneath furniture or the like.

The bevelling of the upper surface 1 of the mopping element, in additionto locating the mopping elemnt in an incline co-operative relationrelative the presser plate, locates the handle of the mop with themopping element flat on the flooring surface at a convenient angle forthe operator so that a maximum force may be imparted in the scrubbingaction with the minimum of ei'fort on the handle. This force istransmitted substantially at right angles to the :nop head even thoughat the required acute angle relative the flooring. and therefore thetendency todeform the socket 2 and destructive forces on the mop headare reduced to a minimum considerably less than in mops of the typewhere the socket is inclined at an angle relative the mop head.

Figures 4 and 5 relate to a modified form of interlock between themopping elementl and the mop head. In this case the mopping element 23is provided with a backing plate 24 which has the rounded or beadedlongitudinal edges 25, while the mop head 26, which carries the handle21 and socket 28, has channel-shaped edges 29 which engage over andinterlock with the rounded edges 25 of the backing plate. Y

A suitable interlocking spring clip arrangement equivalent to thetongues Il of the mop shown in Figure 1 may b utilized to releasablyinterlock the mop head and mopping element against accidentaldisplacement.' However also convenient for use are the wing nuts orscrews 30 which extend through the mop head and engage in the threadedorifices 3| provided in the backing plate 2l. Again the upstandinghinges 4 are provided to carry the presser plate I5.

In either of the modifications illustrated the effective squeezingaction is accomplished through the simple swinging of the presser platethrough approximately 270 to bring the compression throughout the spongematerial of the mopping element to a substantially uniform value, andduring this swinging movement the on a floor surface.

trailing edge of the sponge material adjacent the hinge of the presserplate is in no way displaced laterally from its normal position on itsbacking plate and the thinnest portion of the sponge which is adjacentthe hinge of the presser plate permits the presser plate to thoroughlycompress the thickest portion of the sponge at the forward edge of themop head without setting up excessive compressive forces at any oneportion of the mopping element.

Importance of the mop will therefore be understood from its simplicityof construction and efciency of operationl and the value of the mop isfurther enhanced and the protection it affords the furniture orbaseboard surfaces and the facility with which the mop parts can beinterchanged or renewed.

A further important function of the fabric strip Il in addition to theprotection afforded thereby is the reinforcing effect given to thesponge material to prevent its displacement over the forward edge of themop head during wringing to facilitate and increase the wringing action.

The squeezing of the mopping element from the rear of the mop is also animportant function as the squeezing action acts to force forwardly andreposition the sponge element which is displaced rearwardly under thenormal working of the mop This repositioning of the sponge maintains theshape and increases the life of the mopping element indefinitely. Duringrepositioning however the upturned edge 20' of the wringer elementconstrains the forward edge of the mop from deforming forwardly out ofthe normal shape of the element and additionally increases theeffectiveness of the wringing.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a mop including a handle and a head secured to said handle andpresenting a front edge forward of said handle in relation to directionof mop advance under normal mopping action, and a rear edge at oppositeside of said `handle, a compressible sponge block releasably secured tosaid vhead and presenting at the front of said head a dirt accumulatingface of substantial depth and at thel rear of said head a rear face,

. and having a bottom working face presenting at the rear an edgedisplaced below said head, a presser element pivoted adjacent the rearedge of said head to swing about an axis fixed relative said headandabove said bottom working face and at right angles to said handle saidpresser element having a pivot connecting portion and a sponge pressingportion in angular relation to said pivot connecting portion and spacedthereby from said axis a distance less than the thickness of said spongeat the rear face, and an operating handle for said presser element toswing said element against the undersurface of said sponge to compresssaid sponge against said head with said sponge pressing portion rstcontacting said sponge at said rearward edge below said head anddisplacing said latter edge forwardly and progressively compressing saidsponge from rear to front while leaving the front face of said spongesubstantially unobstructed to flush-dirt accumulations out said frontface.

2. In a mop including a handle and a head secured to said handle andpresenting a front portion forward of said handle in relation todirection of mop advance under normal mopping action, and a rear portionat opposite side of said handle, a compressible sponge block releasablysecured to said head and presenting at the front of said head a frontdirt accumulating face animos means maintaining said presser element inan upright mopping position adjacent said handle, said presser elementbeing bent to provide an obtuse angle rearwardly of said handle when insaid upright mopping position adjacent the pivot axis and at a distancetherefrom less than the thickness of said sponge at the rear facewhereby upon swinging said presser element rearwardly said sponge isengaged initially at the rear lower edge below said head and compressedprogressively from back to front to force water stored in reservoir insaid sponge out said substantially unobstructed forward face.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which said presser element has aright angularly vturned forward edge, to engage said front sponge facefollowing initial compression of the rear of said block to maintain saidblock from excessive forward displacement.

4. In a mop including a handle and a head, a compressible sponge blockbevelled rearwardly to have a thickness at the rear less than thethickness at the front releasably secured to said head, a presserelement -pivoted at the rear of said head adjacent the edge thereof toswing initially rearwardly about an axis fixed relative said headagainst the undersurface -of said sponge to compress said sponge againstsaid head while leaving the forward face of said sponge substantiallyunobstructed, means maintaining said presser element in an uprightmopping position against said handle, and an operating handle for saidpresser element, said presser element being bent to provide an obtuseangle rearwardly of said mop handle when in said upright moppingposition adjacent the pivot axis and at a distance therefrom less thanthe thickness of said sponge at the rear whereby upon swinging saidpresser element rearwardly said sponge is engaged initially at the rearlower corner and Vcompressed progressively from back to front to forcewater stored in reservoir in said sponge out said substantiallyunobstructed forward face.

`5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which the upper head abuttingsurface of said sponge block is bevelled and the front and rear faces ofsaid block are vertical.

6. A mop including a handle and a head secured to said handle andpresenting a front portion forward of said handle in relation todirection of mop advance under normal mopping action and a rear portionat opposite side of said handle, a sponge block releasably secured tosaid head at the underside thereof and having a front and rear inrespect to said head and a bottom working face presenting at the rear anedge displaced below said head, a presser plate having a. pivotalconnection at the rear of said head to swing about an axis xed relativesaid head and above said bottom working face and substantially at rightangles to said handle, and means to maintain said presser plate in amopping position above and in angular relation to said block, therelative disposition of said pivotal connection and presser platepositioning said plate upon swinging movement from said mopping positionto first' engage only the rearward lower block edge below said head, andto thereafter compress said block in a direction forwardly and againstthe underside of said head progressively from rear to front of said headand including the front of said block to flush said block towards thefront.

7. A mop including a handle and a head secured to said handle andpresenting a front portion forward of said handle in relation todirection of mop advance under normal mopping action and a rear portionat opposite side of said handle, a sponge block releasably secured tosaid head at the underside thereof and having a front and rear inrespect to said head and a bottom working face presenting at the rear anedge displaced below said head, said block having a maximum verticaldimension at the front, a presser plate having a pivotal connection atthe rear of said head to swing about an axis fixed relative said headand above said bottom working face and substantially at right angles tosaid handle,

and means to maintain said presser plate in a mopping position above andin angular relation to said block, the relative disposition of saidpivotal connection and presser plate positioning said plate uponswinging movement from said mopping position to flrst engage only therearward lower block edge below said head, and to thereafter compresssaid block in a direction forwardly and against the underside of saidhead progressively from rear to front of said head and including thefront of said block to ush said block towards the front.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 in which the front of said spongeblock is vertical.

NATHANIEL B. GREENLEAF. LEONARD C. WEBSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,466,052 Kroll Aug. 28, 19231,551,668 Johnson Sept. 1, 1925 2,153,601 Vaughn Apr. 11, 1939 2,165,319Vaughn July 11, 1939 2,196,837 Rader Apr. 9, 1940 2,199,147 Bates Apr.30, 1940 2,288,647 Reynolds July 7, 1942 2,418,802 Bendar Apr. 8, 19472,442,467 Lux June 1, i948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 6,435Great Britain Mar. 17, 1902 2,504 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1912 396,469Great Britain Aug. 10, 1933 411,314 Great Britain June 7, 1934

